I've been thinking about the Greg Cipes situation and I'm so conflicted it about it.
On one hand, this man is an integral part of my childhood. I've looked up to him since I was 6 years old, and Beast Boy is a character who means so much to me. I even met Greg a couple years ago at SDCC and he was the absolute sweetest. I was super nervous and excited and he was so gracious and kind and gave me a bracelet (that I still have) and I got to tell him how much Beast Boy means to me. I thanked him for lending his voice to such an iconic character in my favorite show, and it's a memory that I'll cherish forever. I can't imagine anyone else playing Beast Boy, and I'm sure others feel the same way.
However, I can't deny that Greg also has a history of problematic behavior. He spews very harmful rhetoric about anti-vaccines and conspiracy theories, and even does so using Beast Boy's likeness. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs, however, as a public figure I find it very despicable to be purposefully spreading misleading/baseless misinformation to the public, especially when your audience is young children.
He claims that he was fired from Teen Titans Go! because he publicly announced his Parkinson's diagnosis and that he was fired on Valentines Day, but the timeline doesn't add up. He announced his diagnosis in March. That would mean he was fired before he announced it to the public, and if that's the case then why has he suddenly announced it now, so many months later?
I've been holding out hope for a season 6 for almost 20 years. I wanted it to be with the same voice actors because they played their characters so well and they are the ones who brought these characters to life. But I cannot ignore the harm he is causing, and although I love him and would like to believe him, I must admit that his claims don't align with the facts.
(I would also like to acknowledge that Tara Strong, who voices Raven, also has an extremely problematic history as well.)
It hurts me that these people who have brought me so much joy and comfort for all these years have chosen to use their platforms to spew harmful rhetoric. I want to believe that they are good people, but I do not condone their actions and I do not agree with their beliefs.
This situation has been a lot to take in, from the diagnosis itself to the news of him being fired, and my feelings are all over the place. I hope we get an official statement from WB, or that more information comes to light, because as of right now nothing makes sense.
